Flooding prompts talk of tax hike in Jefferson Parish

Updated on Aug 09, 2017 at 07:25 PM CDT

Jefferson Parish officials say this elevated house in River Ridge escaped Saturday's (Aug. 5) flood waters. Parish President Mike Yenni is looking to increase a property tax dedicated to drainage. He's also encouraging residents to apply for federal flood mitigation grants that could help pay the cost of home elevation. (Jefferson Parish)

Two recent heavy rainfalls that left some
Jefferson Parish
streets flooded have Parish President Mike Yenni and some council members looking to reverse a decision made in May to keep a lower millage rate dedicated to drainage.

Voters renewed a 6-mill drainage tax in December, but the Parish Council earlier this year voted overwhelmingly to collect only 4.6 mills, which was the 2016 rate. Only Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken, whose District 5 took the brunt of downpours on July 22 and Aug. 5, voted in favor of the administration's request for the higher rate.

The higher rate would have generated $20.1 million a year, up from $15.6 million at 4.6 mills, according to parish officials. The increase would cost the owner of a $200,000 homestead exempted house an additional $26 a year.

Although the flooding in Metairie wasn't nearly as severe as what
occurred in neighboring New Orleans,
the specter of a similar weather scenario prompted Yenni to announce during Wednesday's Parish Council meeting that he wants to "revisit" the millage issue.

Yenni said the parish could collect an additional $45 million over the life of the 10-year tax that could be used for needed drainage improvements.

"We really need to consider that because that is a hot-button issue," Yenni said. "We're losing out on that additional $45 million. We're going to feel that. ... We really need to think about revisiting that."

Yenni said financial advisers have said the parish could use the projected revenue as collateral for a loan to access $30 million that could be used immediately on infrastructure projects.

"We can tackle some major projects on both the east and west bank to handle some major drainage concerns," he said.

At least two council members on Wednesday appeared receptive to the idea. Councilman Paul Johnston, whose district also was hit hard during Saturday's storm, and Councilman Mark Spears inquired as to how soon the issue could be brought up again.

The Parish Council has the authority to "roll back" or "roll forward" a millage within the limits voters set when they approved the tax. Typically, such decisions are made in relation to the state of property values to either minimize the impact on taxpayers or realize more revenue for government.

Yenni did not say when he would propose the millage increase ordinance.